The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Senate to reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, nullifying her six-month suspension.
Justice Binta Nyako, in her judgment delivered on Friday, deemed the suspension of the Kogi Central senator “excessive.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was suspended in March for alleged gross misconduct following a confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio concerning seating arrangements.
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The dispute escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Akpabio on national television of punishing her due to her rejection of his alleged sexual advances—an accusation Akpabio has denied.
Akpoti-Uduaghan subsequently filed a petition with the Senate regarding the alleged sexual harassment and challenged her suspension in court through suit FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.
In her ruling, Justice Nyako found fault with Chapter Eight of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act, declaring them “overreaching” because they lack provisions for a maximum suspension period for lawmakers.
The judge emphasized that while the Senate has disciplinary powers, such actions must not prevent citizens from being represented in the National Assembly.
Justice Nyako highlighted that a 180-day suspension for Akpoti-Uduaghan, given that the Senate is constitutionally required to sit for only 181 days a year, effectively denied the people of Kogi Central meaningful participation in national governance.
“The court is not saying that the Senate lacks the power to sanction a member. However, such sanctions must not negate the constitutional right of constituents to be represented in parliament,” Justice Nyako ruled.
Despite ruling against the Senate on the suspension, the court found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt for a satirical apology she posted on her Facebook page on April 27.
Justice Nyako determined that the post was indeed connected to the ongoing suspension case and, consequently, found Akpoti-Uduaghan in contempt.
As a result, the judge ordered her to publish an apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days, in addition to imposing a ₦5 million fine.
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Reacting to the judgment, Senate Spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu indicated that the Senate would not immediately reinstate the senator. Adaramodu asserted that the court’s judgment does not override the Senate’s inherent constitutional authority to discipline its members.
“Which judgment are we appealing when they (the court) said the Senate has the right to discipline its erring members? The court has not ousted the Senate’s statutory right to punish any erring senator.
“It was established that the senator in question erred. The court has already told her to go and do some things, like restitution, so after the restitution, the Senate will now sit again and consider the content of that restitution, and that will inform our next line of action,” Adaramodu said.
The Senate, he explained, would only reconvene to deliberate on the matter after Akpoti-Uduaghan had complied with the court’s directives.
“The onus is no more on us now; it is already on her doorstep to go and apologise. Once she does that, then the Senate will sit and determine how to deal with her matter.
“The first reaction now will not be from us, the court has ruled, so once she takes the step to redress and does what the court has directed her to do, then the Senate will sit and look at the content of her reaction as prescribed by the court,” Adaramodu added.
Speaking to journalists after the court’s decision, Paul Dauda, SAN, the Senate’s counsel, characterized the ruling as a partial win for the Senate, particularly regarding the issue of civil contempt related to social media posts made during the legal proceedings.
Dauda said, “The first application filed by the Senate, that no social media posts should have been made, was decided in our favour. The court directed that the satirical apology be taken down and that a proper apology be published in two national dailies. Additionally, damages of five million naira were awarded to be paid to the court.”
On the substantive ruling regarding the suspension, Dauda noted that the Senate’s authority to discipline its members was not in dispute.
“It appears the court affirmed that the Senate, as an institution, has the right to discipline its members. While members are elected to represent constituencies, they are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Senate’s standing rules,” he said.
He explained that the court did not order Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement but merely suggested that the Senate could consider recalling her.
“There was no relief asking for the suspension to be lifted. The judge only made what we call an obiter dictum, a non-binding remark, that the suspension may have been excessive. We will consult with our colleagues, read the full judgment, and respond accordingly,” he added.
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